Mailbag: Wahoos Line-Up, Leadership, Buxton's Progress

As far as the last question goes, you could probably see Gabriel Moya get some opportunities as an opener also, in addition to the names you mentioned.

If the reports are right i think Sano could show most improvement this season if he can get back to recognizing pitches staying way from the slider to not become easy strike out hitter.  My biggest concern is also can he hit hard throwing fast ball pitcher last year he was having hard time catching up to them. My guess he returns to player he was two years ago.

Buxton is the player i have no clue on if he's going to hit or not. My gut is if he can just play and not get hurt i think one day he will figure it out enough where he becomes above average hitter. The problem i see is he play's so hard that i just think he's  prone to hurting himself never getting to point where he can figure it out.

Kepler this where I am going out on limb I think he's going to become one of these quality baseball players that becomes way above average player. I just think he will become this super player that in his early years he will be able to play center field, right field and first base if needed. Later in his career he will play top right field and when he is finishing his career probably end up at first and DH. I just hope we get to see this player because I just think he is just late bloomer and we just might trade him to someone else because his numbers didn't show up as analytical people think they should. I may be wrong but what my eye see is very good player and its going to come I just not sure when it will come. He has above average speed, above average arm, very good mechanics on his baseball swing and he barrels ball very well and he hits ball hard all the necessary tools become very good player. Also has good attitude and works hard as his game from coaches and teammates. Again I think he could become one the major league all star player. 

If these players all have productive years the Twins will be much improved club over last year. Pitching should be adequate with enough starters if they stay healthy to carry the club. Also the bull pen is not bad as everyone thinks May has making for closer, Taylor good eight inning setup man and Hildenberger seventh or eight setup man plus couple others to mix in their in like Reed. My biggest concern is that we may hit more home runs but we will have nobody on because we lack batters with on base capabilities. We will see how year plays out.

Buxton is the most important Twin. His impact is magnified by how many facets of the game he brings. His defense allows pitchers to make mistakes. It allows the Twins to possible move A more bat first player into a corner OF spot. Kepler as a fourth OF'er? His arm restrains the running game. On offense, he does need to hit to at least a replacement level. But remember this. His walks become a double. He scores from second on any single. He moves IF in, and distracts pitchers while on base. There are few MLB players with his impact on the bases. He will be a straw! The one that stirs the drink? Or the one that broke the camels back? We will know by August for sure.

He's one of those players of whom opponents say, "he can beat you, even when he's not hitting."

 

Which of course indirectly underscores how important the hit-tool is in our game most of the other times. He needs to figure out breaking-pitches-away, toot sweet.

I think the easiest way to explain the concept and upside of the opener is that it allows the "starter" to effectively face 22-23 batters instead of just 18. So instead of getting 5 effective innings from your "starter", you can get 6 effective innings from your "starter". 

While you definitely have a point, in both the beating u while not hitting, and his need to recognize the down and out stuff, I must admit I have never been called, "toot sweet" before? :) .

The GREAT David Johansen on Johnny Carson.  Watch 3:10 to 3:20

The GREAT David Johansen on Johnny Carson.  Watch 3:10 to 3:20

Wow ewen21! How did you ever remember that?

Wow ewen21! How did you ever remember that?

I want to congratulate Cody on successfully dodging the question of who WILL show the most progression this season between Kepler, Sano, and Buxton.

I've decided to bet on Buxton showing the most progression. He'll be better and show more consistency this season. I expect he'll have a couple of bad (maybe even really bad) stretches, balanced by ones where he goes nuts, but I think his baseline will be higher this year and he'll be healthy enough to play 140+ games.

I'm a little worried that Kepler is who he is. I hope I'm wrong and he takes a solid step forward on offense, but I'm not placing any money on that one.

Sano will almost certainly be better this year than last, but he also may end up being a somewhat one-dimensional slugger.

Buxton has the most upside, has had some semi-fluky injuries that have slowed his development (Sano's leg problems are a little less fluky, I fear), and is the youngest out of all of them. If I have to pick who's going to show the most progression this year, I'll bet on Buck.

The other aspect of the 'opener' that I really never see/hear much about is how it can allow the 'primary' to get a 'win' without pitching a full 5 innings. Only the 'starter' is required to pitch 5 innings to get credited with a 'win'. This could affect arbitration values if a young pitcher picks up some additional (and potentially 'cheap') Ws as a primary. Neither an argument for or against it, just another aspect of it.

Wow ewen21! How did you ever remember that?

I saw that clip on You Tube a while back, quite unintentionally.  Amazing that I remember that reference.

And that is the only time I heard "toot sweet"

Sounds like 1940s slang

Do we trade Kepler when his stock is "high" and get something, knowing that Kirilloff isn't that far behind?  I only say "high" because teams seem to have interest in him because of his team control, age, defense, and potential.